godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Transitive physical use: to make an object, machine, building, etc. stop being intact or usable. The intransitive counterpart is 壊れる.
子どもがリモコンを壊してしまった。
The child broke the remote control.
古い家を壊
They demolished the old house and turned the site into a parking lot.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Used for harming a condition, health, mood, relationship, plan, or other non-physical state, as well as damaging something's value or function.
無理をしすぎて体を壊した。
I overdid it and damaged my health.
その一言が楽しい雰囲気を壊した。
That one remark spoiled the pleasant mood.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
break a bill; change into smaller money
Money-changing use, especially for changing a large bill into smaller bills or coins. 崩す or 両替する is often more standard, but こわす is also used in this sense.
小銭が必要で、一万円札をこわした。
I needed coins, so I broke a 10,000-yen bill.